On February 23, 2025, 2.3 million young Germans will cast their votes for the first time in the Bundestag elections. What issues matter most to them, and which parties are likely to benefit from their votes?
At the “Hans Schvir” vocational school in Gelsenkirchen, the bell rings to signal the start of the third class. It’s 10 AM, and a class of aspiring chimney sweeps is participating in a politics lesson – with a practical twist. They’re simulating the 2025 Bundestag elections: analyzing party programs, practicing coalition negotiations, and voting using hand-crafted ballots. The aim of this school project is to raise political awareness, particularly in the lead-up to the federal elections.
22-year-old Djani believes the political education in school is helping him gain general knowledge. One topic stands out to him ahead of the elections: “I think a lot is being blamed on foreigners, and it’s claimed that Germany isn’t working as it should. But I believe many obstacles are due to various regulations, not necessarily foreigners themselves.”
Djani has already decided which party he will vote for. Many other students, however, are still undecided, but they know the issues that matter to them.
Key Concerns for Young Voters
- Cost of living and inflation are major concerns for young voters, particularly those aged 18-24.
- Tea, a 21-year-old student training in wastewater management, isn’t satisfied with the performance of the ruling SPD, Greens, and FDP coalition: “The governing parties debated too much on certain topics but didn’t do enough,” she says.
Political Landscape for Younger Voters
Jörg Schenenborn, an election expert with ARD, explains that younger voters are generally not firmly tied to one party and are more likely to experiment. “In the European Parliament elections, young voters leaned toward smaller parties, but for federal elections, the rules of voting are different. This means it’s likely they will support opposition parties in the Bundestag,” Schenenborn predicts.
In 2021, the FDP and Greens enjoyed the highest support among young people, while in 2024 European elections, CDU/CSU and AfD garnered the most support. Schenenborn expects opposition parties to continue having a better chance with the youth in the upcoming elections.
Growing Importance of Migration Issues
The topic of migration is becoming increasingly significant for younger Germans. 19-year-old Gianluca first encountered the AfD last year due to their stance on migration policies, and he voted for them in the 2024 European elections. However, he now regrets his choice: “I think it wasn’t the right decision, but at the time, they had convincing arguments, especially on migration.”
Frank Grojl, a researcher at the German Institute for Youth Political Education, highlights that migration has become a central issue, especially for younger generations. “AfD has successfully framed migration as the central issue, linking all relevant topics about the economy and social justice to migration,” he notes, pointing out the influence of social media in spreading these messages.
Call for More Political Education
Grojl calls for an increase in political education, similar to what is happening at the Gelzenkirchen vocational school. At the end of their lesson, students cast their votes, but the results are for internal use only.
